The Trying Policy:

Chapter 2

"She wants to what?" Ted asked incredulously.

"Look honey, I know this is kind of weird. You are lucky she didn't want to talk to you about this. I hardly knew what to say myself."

Ted had thought that for once, everything was going as normal. He had left for work, and had a pretty good day. Dinner had been good,
and everything had seemed normal. Then when he had finally gotten into bed and turned out the light, his wife tells him that his daughter wants to
start wearing diapers again.

"Yeah, well it is probably just as good she came to you, I have no idea what I would have said. How on earth did this come up?" Ted asked in a
puzzled tone.

"Well Julie came up to me and asked if she could talk to me about something. Then she asks me if I remember the trying policy, and I start
thinking 'oh no, my daughter is about to tell me she wants to try smoking or something'. I had to work pretty hard to get her to talk about it at all.
I had to follow her into her room and really coax it out of her. She was really scared that we would think she is weird."

"Well, if you ask me wanting to wear diapers is a little weird." Ted said matter of factly.

"Well honey, I can think of a few things that you tend to enjoy that a lot of people, your daughter certainly, would find more than a bit weird."
Sally said in a semi sarcastic tone, and gave her husband a sly little look that only married couples who have had their share of bedroom fun and
games can have.

"Well, yeah, OK I can see your point, but still." Ted said defensively.

"Still what?" Sally responded questioningly.

"Well, still, um, well I don't know. But you can't be seriously considering putting Julie back in diapers? I mean she is 15. I don't even think they
make diapers that big."

"Ted, first of all I can guarantee you that they make diapers that would fit Julie. I mean, you don't think that in this whole world there are no
people your daughter's age who still wear diapers? I know for a fact that there are diapers out there that will fit Julie. Second of all, yes I am
seriously considering it." Sally added this last part with a bit of determination.

"Ok, maybe you can explain to me why on earth you would think it might be a good idea to put our daughter back in diapers."

Sally sat up and turned on the light next to her side of the bed. Ted knew he was about to get a speech that had probably been
rehearsed. Any time Sally sat up in bed and turned on the light, it meant she had something to say. Ted and Sally had a very good relationship,
one that was built in no small part of good communication. Over the yeahrs, Ted had learned when to pay attention, and this was one of those
times.

"OK, are you ready?" Sally asked.

Ted kind of smiled and shrugged. He nodded his head to let his wife know that he was taking her seriously.

"First of all" Sally began, "I think that it is very important that we show Julie that it is OK for her to come to us with things that she feels
uncomfortable about. I mean, how great is it that our daughter felt comfortable coming to us about something so personal? I saw how hard it
was for her to talk about. And I think it is really important that we show her that we support her coming to us. I mean, who knows what will
happen in the next few yeahrs Ted? I want my daughter to know she can come to us about anything."

"Well," Ted agreed "I can certainly see your point there, although I really don't like to think about anything bad like that."

"Yeahh, me neither, but I think it will do us a world of good if we show Julie that coming to us is the best thing." Sally took a breath and
continued, "Second of all, there is the whole trying policy."

"I thought the trying policy was about stuff like drinking?" Ted added

"Well, I thought so too, but when I think about it now, I can see how Julie got the idea. I mean, what did we really tell her? As I recall the
concept was this: If you want to try something, we want you to come to us. We will let you try it on our terms, and you won't get in trouble. We
never said anything specifically about what it was that she might want to try."

"True." Ted admitted.

"And well, here she has done what we had hoped she would do. I am worried that if we say no, it will be the first and last time we ever get asked
to use the trying policy, and I think we both can agree that that would be bad."

Ted had to admit that his wife did have a point. The whole trying policy had been his idea. He had gotten the idea from his father, and he
still remembered the first time he asked his father to try a cigarette. His dad had laughed and said fine. The next day, with his father instructing
him (and laughing as he turned green), Ted had smoked his first and last cigarette. This train of thought gave him an idea. Before he could say it,
Sally started again.

"And Ted, you know what else? The more I think about it, the more convinced I become that we should do it. I mean, what harm is it going to
do anybody if our daughter is wearing a diaper? With the clothes they wear these days, I can't imagine that anybody is even going to notice. Plus
we really should reward Julie for coming to us, not punish her."

"Yeah, I agree" said Ted. "It's just that I can't believe that we are rewarding her by putting her in diapers."

"Well, yeahh, I will admit it is a bit different. But it's what she wants. And like I said, it is certainly not hurting anybody. Although I do have to
admit, I am not looking forward to having to change her."

"I don't even want to think about that." Ted added quickly.

Sally looked at her husband, and asked in a voice very unlike that of her daughter, "Well honey, I think we should do it, at least to show her that
we support her. What do you think?"

"Well, I can't believe I am saying this, but I guess you are right."

"Ted, I think it is for the best. So are we agreed?"

"Yeah, I guess so."

"Good, but I am not sure how we should go about doing this. I mean, how you think we should approach this?"

For the first time in the conversation, Ted felt like he had a good answer.

That next morning was a Friday, and Julie woke up to her alarm clock telling her to get up and start getting ready for school. It was pretty
early, and Julie's thoughts were focused on the speech she had to give that day in English class. The topic was Edgar Allen Poe, and Julie felt
ready. She still got pretty nervous talking in front of people, but at least she knew her subject well. She crawled out of bed and headed down
stairs to get some breakfast.

Mom and Dad were in the kitchen. Dad looked like he was about to leave for work, brief case in one hand, and a bagel in the other. He
saw Julie come in.

"Morning kid-o. What's shakin?"

"Morning dad. I have that speech today. In English class."

"The one on Poe?" Ted asked

"Yeahh."

"Well, good luck honey. I am sure you will do fine. I have to run to work. Tell me about it when I get home tonight ok?"

With that Ted came over and kissed his daughter on the forehead. Then he went up to his wife and kissed her goodbye. On his way out
the door he turned back to Sally and said,

"Oh, do me a favor and call me at work. I really want to know how this turns out." And he closed the door behind him.

For a split second Julie wondered what he was talking about. But she put it out of her mind as she started pouring the milk on her cereal.
As she sat sown and put a large spoonful in her mouth, her mother spoke.

"So I talked to your dad." Sally said quickly.

Julie immediately knew that her mom was talking about their conversation of yesterday. Julie had kind of put it out of her mind. She was
scared about her father saying 'no way' and thinking she was weird. The butterflies came back to her stomach and her pulse quickened. Julie
tried to say something, but with a mouthful of cereal all that came out was "weawy?" She quickly chewed and swallowed.

"Really?"

Sally came over to the counter where Julie was eating her cereal and pulled up a stool next to her daughter.

"Yeah, really." Sally said.

Julie's mind was racing. What had he said? Did he think she was crazy? She looked at her mom and nervously asked,

"And?"

"Well, to tell you the truth he was a bit surprised and confused at first. It took him a minute to understand that I was serious. But once he knew I
was, he listened."

"Does he think I am crazy?" Julie asked timidly.

Sally let out a little laugh. "No honey, he doesn't think you are crazy. It did take him a minute to believe me, but once he did, no he
certainly never said you were crazy."

Julie let out a sigh of relief. At least her dad didn't think she was nuts. But there were still some important things left unanswered,

"OK, but what did he say mom? I mean, what did he say about the trying policy thing?"

Sally cocked her head to the side and said slowly,

"Truthfully honey he didn't like the idea all that much at first." Julie's started to frown, "but, I was able to bring him around to it eventually."

Julie wasn't sure she had heard her mother correctly. Did she say what she thought she had said?

"So he is OK with it?" Julie asked.

"Well, Julie, like I said, I was able to bring him around. We talked for a while about what the trying policy was all about. And honestly, neither of
us had ever thought about you asking to try anything like this. But the more we thought about it, the more we agreed that it would be OK. We
both agreed that since you came to us, we should go ahead and let you try it. I mean that was what the whole thing was all about."

"So, you guys are going let me start wearing diapers again?"

Sally paused and looked at her daughter,

"Well honey, that's going to be up to you."

Julie was a bit confused. How was it up to her?

"What do you mean it is up to me mom? I mean I already told you I wanted to."

"Oh, yes I know that sweetie. But well, it is one thing to say you want to try wearing diapers, and another thing to start doing it. And more over,
if you remember, the trying policy says that your dad and I get to decide how it will work."

Julie nodded her head. Her parents had always made it clear that if she wanted to try something, it was going to be on their terms. She
looked at her mom and said,

"Yeahh, I remember that part."

"Well good." Sally said. "You see, it did take a bit of effort on my part to get your dad to agree to it. But he came up with an idea that he liked,
and I decided it was a good one and went along with it."

"Dad came up with the idea?" Julie asked in disbelief. "What is it?"

"Well, keep in mind that I agreed with it Julie. The idea is this. If you want to see what it is like to go back to wearing diapers, we'll let you do it.
But we both agreed that in order for you to find out what it is really like you are going to have to make a commitment. So if you want to wear
diapers again, you have to do it on our terms. Just like the trying policy says."

Julie started thinking. She had never given any thought as to how she was going to try doing this. In her mind, she just wanted to know
what it would be like to wear a diaper again. But her mom was making this sound like something more involved.

"What do you mean on your terms?" Julie asked.

"Well, I mean that as long as you agree to follow the rules your dad and I came up with, we will let you do it."

"Well what exactly are the rules you and dad came up with?" Julie asked.

Sally pulled her stool closer to Julies. She sat up and looked at Julie.

"Well the rules are like this. First of all, if you want to do this you are going to have to commit to it for at least one week."

"Commit to it for a week?" a confused Julie asked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Sally answered, "if you want to try wearing diapers, you're going to have to wear them for at least one whole week. No breaks, no
backing out mid week, no changing your mind. And just so we are clear here, I am talking about 24 hours a day for seven straight days."

Sally could tell that her daughter was a bit surprised at this. So she added,

"In case you are wondering why, I'll tell you. First of all, you said you were curious about what it is like to wear diapers. Well, we want you to
understand what wearing diapers is really like, and anything less than a week won't let you do that. Second of all, I looked into what kinds of
diapers I could get for you, and they don't sell them in small quantities. It's not like I can just run to the grocery store and pick up a pack of
Huggies for teenagers. It turns out that the least I can buy is about a weeks worth. And if I am going to buy you diapers, I am certainly not going
to throw them away, and I can't give them away, so you'll just have to wear them."

Julie didn't know what to think. A week sounded like an awful long time. And mom sounded like she was saying that she would have to
wear a diaper at all times.

"Well, like what about when I go to school and stuff? Would I have to wear a diaper to school?" Julie asked meekly.

"Twenty four hours a day Julie. That means you will be in diapers when you go to bed at night, diapers at breakfast, diapers at school, diapers at
dinner, diapers all the time. Wearing diapers is not a part time thing honey, you are either in diapers, or you are not. And I am not interested in
having to remember when I need to be checking your diapers and when you are not even wearing them. It's just a lot easier for me if I know that
you are wearing them all the time."

Julie started thinking about what it would be like to have to wear diapers all the time. It was a new thought for her. In her dreams, her
parents just put her in a diaper. She certainly never thought of herself going to school in them. Would people be able to tell?

"Mom, what if people can tell? I mean, what do I say to people at school and stuff?"

"Well, first of all, I really doubt that anybody will be able to tell. But if they do see that you are in a diaper, well it's up to you what you want to
tell them. You could always say something like you had a really bad bladder infection that you are just getting over."

Julie thought about it. Her mom might be right. She had enough baggy jeans and pants and it would be hard for anyone to tell that she
was wearing a diaper. But a whole week still sounded like a long time. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. But then again, it was probably
now or never. Julie quickly made up her mind.

"Well mom, I mean, I never really thought about wearing it for a whole week, but if that is the only way I will get to try it, I'll do it." said a
determined Julie.

"Well good, but there are still a few more rules I need to go over." Sally added

"How many more?" Julie asked reluctantly.

"Well, just two, but I would think they are pretty obvious. First, if you're wearing diapers obviously you are expected to use them. And I mean
for everything. No toilets allowed. The only time you will even be allowed to go into a bathroom will be to brush your teeth. Of course, you can
also take a shower, but only when we say so. Second, you won't be allowed to change yourself, either me and your dad will take care of that.
And you will also have to get used to us regularly checking your diaper to see if you need to be changed."

Julie stared at her mom in disbelief. Her mom must have seen this.

"Julie sweetie, don't look so shocked. I mean if you want to try wearing diapers again, you need to see what it is really like. People who wear
diapers use them, and if you want to wear diapers, you're going to have to use them too."

Julie didn't know what to say. All this was certainly a lot more than she had ever bargained for. It was bad enough that she would have
to wear them for a week. But she had never really thought of using them. Julie tried to think of the last time she wet her pants to see if she could
even remember what that was like. But she couldn't remember. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.

"Gosh mom, I don't know. That is not exactly what I had in mind."

"Well, I imagine it is not. But honey, this is really what the trying policy is about. Truthfully, we always thought you would want to try something
like smoking. I mean, some people think it is glamorous to smoke cigarettes and stuff, and we always figured that if you asked we would let you
smoke a few because it would show you how yucky smoking is. So when we talked about this last night, we decided that if you want to try going
back to diapers we would let you if you agreed to these rules. You want to know what it is like to wear diapers again, and there is only one way
to find out and that is to really try it. Putting you in diapers for a day or something won't work. So we came up with this."

"Well, I am not so sure this is something I would want to do mom."

"And that Julie, is why I said it was up to you. Take a minute to think about it. But understand that it is now or never and these rules are not
flexible."

"I don't know mom. I mean, I really want to see what it is like and all. But what you are talking about doesn't sound like something I want to try."

Sally had expected this. Reality is almost always disappointing compared with the ideas and dreams in our heads.

"Well Julie, I would certainly understand if you said no. I mean, this is not something I would ever want to do. But then again, I never had
dreams about being put back into diapers! And if this is something that you have been wondering about for such a long time, maybe it would be
best to see what it is really like. Otherwise you might always wonder."

Julie didn't want to say it, but she was thinking the same thing. I mean, here was her chance. Her parents were offering to put her in
diapers, which was something she had been wanting for longer than she could remember. And while the rules they had made were pretty bad,
this was certainly the only chance she would get. Julie tried to think about what it would be like. She could probably handle the 24 hours a day
part. But a whole week seemed like a really long time. What if somebody did notice? She would never live it down at school. The very thought
terrified Julie. And the using them part� Julie decided to not even think about that. 'We'll cross that bridge when we get there' Julie thought.

Sally sat and watched as her little girl's mind tossed and turned. It was obvious that Julie was thinking about it. Maybe she should help
her along.

"So, what do you think Julie. Are we putting you in diapers or not?"

"Gosh mom, I don't know. I mean, I want to and all, but."

"Well, Julie, let me ask you something. Are you having a hard time making up your mind?"

"Yeah."

"I think you really want to say yes, but you are a little scared."

Julie looked at her mom in shock. Maybe her mom could read her mind.

"Well, yeah, maybe a little scared."

"Honey listen, I really think you should do it."

"Really?" stammered a very surprised Julie.

"Yes really. I mean, you obviously really want to, but you are a little scared. But you were scared to even talk to me about it and once you did it
got easier didn't it?"

"Well, yeah a little bit."

"Well, I think this is kind of the same thing. It is hard to make the commitment, but once you do, it will get easier. Plus, I know you really want to
see what it is like. If you don't do it now, you will always wonder. I would much rather you figure it out now, than spend the rest of you life
wondering what could have happened if you had taken the chance."

Julie bit down on her teeth and scrunched up her nose. Sally recognized that as the face her daughter made when she was building up her
courage. Julie thought about the whole thing. It was kind of crazy, and certainly not how she would have wanted to do it, but it was also her only
chance. The thought of having to use her diapers sent a chill down her spine, but she quickly put the thought out of her mind when she realized
that she would never get another chance like the one before her. 'Now or never huh?' Julie thought to herself. 'I have been dreaming of this for so
long. But I just don't know about the rules.' Then somewhere deep in Julie's conscious a question popped up, 'if you say no now, will you ever
forgive yourself?' Julie shook her head. 'What the heck, why not' she said to herself. Julie took in a deep breath.

"OK, I'll do it." She said quickly.

"Are you sure?" Sally asked. "Make sure you are, because if you say yes, I'll go buy the diapers while you are at school. And your week will
start as soon as you get home."

"Yeah I'm sure mom. Like you said, it is now or never and I don't like the sound of never."

"OK then. And honey, I am really glad you said yes." Sally said as she touched Julies shoulder. "Now hurry up and finish getting ready for
school or you will be late. I'll drive you and go shopping after I drop you off."

Chapter 3